Virbhadra takes jibe at Anurag, says don’t have to prove patriotism

SHIMLA: Stung by the criticism over shifting of the World Cup T-20 match venue between India and Pakistan from Dharamshala to Kolkata, chief minister Virbhadra Singh took a jibe at BJP MP and Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur, saying he does not need to prove his patriotism to anyone.

Singh reacted angrily to Thakur’s remarks accusing him of backstabbing the country and asking him to clarify on the change in the match venue.

Thakur, who started ‘ India First Yatra’ from Shimla on Saturday, had set 48-hour deadline for Singh to clarify his government’ stance that forced the match organisers to shift the venue.

“I don’t have to prove my love for the country to anyone, especially to Anurag Thakur,” said Virbhadra, in statement issued on Sunday.

“I find no reason to respond to the BCCI secretary as it was people, the ex-servicemen and relatives of martyrs from the state who opposed o the match between the two countries,” he said, adding that killing of army jawans from Himachal in terrorist attacks at Pathankot and Pampore had flared up their anger,” he said.

“There were many others who laid their life fighting Pakistanbacked terrorists in different places. A large number of exservicemen and BJP leaders also raised their voice against the match,” he said.

“The kin of Kargil martyrs Vikram Batra and Saurabh Kalia too opposed the match,” the CM claimed.

“Why the HPCA ( Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association) didn’t have a dialogue with the families of the martyrs on the issue before holding the match?” he questioned.

A large number of ex-servicemen and BJP leaders raised their voice against the match. Anurag is more concerned about holding the cricket match than respecting the martyrs and sentiments of their families.

VIRBHADRA SINGH, chief minister